St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Fangfoss

St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fangfoss Inspection report

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118034 Unique Reference Number East Riding of Yorkshire Local Authority 312788 Inspection number 4 October 2007 Inspection date Kathryn Dodd Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Primary Type of school Voluntary aided School category 3 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 104 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Jane Cook Chair Mr Ian Mackenzie Headteacher 1 June 2003 Date of previous school inspection Fangfoss School address York North Yorkshire YO41 5QG 01759 368446 Telephone number 01759 368446 Fax number

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3-11 Age group 4 October 2007 Inspection date 312788 Inspection number .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. 4 October 2007

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by one Additional Inspector. The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the following issues: achievement and standards, the quality of teaching and learning, and leadership and management. Evidence was gathered from the school’s self- evaluation, national published assessment data, the school’s own records of pupils’ progress over time, observations of lessons, and the school’s plans for further improvement. Discussions with staff, pupils and governors were held, and the parents’ questionnaires were looked at. Other aspects of the school’s work were not investigated in detail, but inspectors found no evidence to suggest that the school’s own assessments, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified, and these have been included where appropriate in this report.

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Description of the school

All the pupils at this small school are from White British family backgrounds. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is below average, as is the proportion with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. In September 2006, a new Foundation Stage Unit was established by amalgamating the nearby pre-school with the school’s Reception class. The school holds the Healthy Schools accreditation.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 9 Inspection Report: St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fangfoss, 4 October 2007

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Grade: 2

This is a good school with an accurate view of its own effectiveness. It offers a good quality of education for its pupils and provides good value for money. The strong sense of belonging to the St Martin’s family underpins school life. In this very friendly, warm and caring setting, pupils achieve well and their personal development is good. The school has a good reputation within the locality, and the number of pupils attending has risen considerably over recent years. It is no surprise therefore, that so many parents express their satisfaction with their children’s education and are pleased that their children really enjoy school and are eager to learn. As a result of good teaching and learning, pupils, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, achieve well and reach standards that are significantly well above average by Year 6 in English, mathematics and science. The quality of work on display in art and design

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Grade: 2

is also of a high standard. Although high standards represent good progress, overall, from children’s starting points in the Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception age children), the rate at which pupils make progress across the school is uneven. Pupils make particularly rapid gains in their learning in Years 5 and 6. This is because lessons continually challenge pupils to achieve more, particularly the more capable pupils. Also, clear explanations, good quality marking and pupils’ good understanding of how well they are doing and what they need to learn next, all contribute significantly to their progress. These good practices however, are not yet always adopted consistently in all classes. Consequently, the more capable pupils could sometimes achieve more than they do. Nevertheless, good organisation, interesting and purposeful activities that enthuse pupils, along with positive relationships between teachers

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Grade: 2

and pupils, are strong features of most lessons. Making sure that pupils enjoy learning has high priority in the curriculum. This is seen through a wonderful range of exciting activities on offer, special events, trips and visitors. Furthermore, links between different subjects are carefully planned and this helps to bring learning alive. This is one of the reasons why pupils talk with such enthusiasm about school life. They thoroughly enjoy coming to school, behave well and grow in self-confidence and maturity. They know how to keep safe and how to live healthy lifestyles. Pupils’ good personal development, along with good academic progress, is why they are well placed to do well at secondary school and to become responsible young adults of the future. Recent developments, such as the integration of the pre-school, provision of before and after school clubs, along with consistently high standards attained by Year 6, all contribute to the

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Grade: 2

school’s increasing popularity within the locality. These successes are the result of the shared vision and strong commitment to improving the school of the headteacher and governors. Their good leadership and management have ensured good improvement since the previous inspection. The leadership and management roles and responsibilities of staff, however, are underdeveloped, and the management structure does not fully reflect the changing circumstances and needs of this growing school. As a result, the arrangements for checking how well the pupils and the school are performing are not yet a fully shared responsibility. Nevertheless, this is a school that accurately pinpoints its strengths, recognises that it is capable of achieving even more, and has a good capacity to do so. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fangfoss, 4 October 2007

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Grade: 2

The overall effectiveness of the Foundation Stage is good. When children start school, their skills, although variable from year to year because of small numbers, are broadly typical for their age. Children make good progress and, by the time they start Year 1, the majority achieve the expectation for this age. The teacher and nursery nurse work together very effectively. They record and check children’s progress and achievements carefully, in order to provide a wonderful range of lively and stimulating activities that are matched closely to the learning needs of each and every child. This, along with the priority given to children’s personal, social and emotional development, and the warm and caring relationships with adults, ensures that children settle quickly into school and develop a love of learning. The Foundation Stage leader makes a strong contribution to improving provision, for example, the provision for nursery age

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Grade: 2

children since the integration of the pre-school. Although practice is still developing, initiatives so far are already paying dividends. Children’s understanding of school routines and expectations of how to behave, for example, are established very early on, thus preparing children well for learning in their Reception Year and beyond.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Extend the leadership and management roles of staff, so that checking the school’s performance becomes a shared responsibility. ■ Make sure that lessons consistently challenge the more capable pupils to do better. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fangfoss, 4 October 2007 .

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What the school should do to improve further

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fangfoss, 4 October 2007

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Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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Overall effectiveness

How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 2 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do learners achieve? 1 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The attendance of learners 2 The behaviour of learners 2 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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and interests of learners?

2 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average to below average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fangfoss, 4 October 2007

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and supporting all learners?

How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can How effectively and efficiently resources, including staff, are deployed to achieve value for money The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities Yes Do procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements? No Does this school require special measures? No Does this school require a notice to improve? 8 of 9 Inspection Report: St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fangfoss, 4 October 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

5 October 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Fangfoss, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO41 5QG Thank you so much for the very warm welcome you gave me when I visited your school. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of your ‘St Martin’s family’. You answered all my questions very thoughtfully. I particularly enjoyed seeing you singing so joyfully in assembly and looking at the very high standard of your work in art and design displayed all around the school. You are very fortunate because you have lots of chances to take part in so many exciting activities. It is good to hear that you know so much about different cultures around the world because of the special events you take part in, such as the Slavery and Abolition project. It is easy to see why you enjoy coming to school so much, why you were so keen to tell me about it and why so many of your parents are pleased and proud of your achievements. Your behaviour was good

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

and it was pleasing to hear that you feel safe in school because there is always someone on hand to help if you need it. All the adults care a great deal about you. They help you to do well, to grow in confidence and make sure that you are well prepared for going to secondary school. Year 6 national tests results, for example, are much better than in most other schools. I have asked your school to make sure that the work they give you is never too easy for you, and always gives you the chance to show what you are really capable of. Your headteacher and governors work hard to make sure that your school continues to get even better. It is now a bigger school, and I think the school can keep an even closer check on where you are learning well and whether you might be able to do even better. You can help your school become even better by making sure that you tell your teacher if your work is too easy. You should check all the time what you still have to do to reach your targets

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

and, of course, continue to try your very best in everything that you do. I wish you all the very best for the future. Yours sincerely Kathryn Dodd Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fangfoss, 4 October 2007

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